Push-pull roller or stationary type exercising apparatus

ABSTRACT

AN EXERCISING APPARATUS CONSTITUTING TWO EXERCISING MEMBERS, EACH INCLUDING THREE ROLLERS FREELY ROTATABLE AND SUPPORTED BY TWO PARALLEL SIDE PLATES. THE ROLLERS ARE ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO THE SIDE PLATES SO THAT IN ONE ORIENTTATIOPN OF THE SIDE PLATES RELATIVE TO A FLAT SURFACE TWO OF THE ROLLERS MAY BE PLACED IN CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE WITH THE SIDE PLATES ELEVATED THEREFROM TO ENABLE THE EXERCISING MEMBER TO BE ROLLED ALONG THE SURFACE. IN A SECONDORIENTATION OF THE EXERCISING MEMBER RELATIVE TO THE SUR-   FACE THE SIDE PLATES MAY CONTACT THE SURFACE WITH ALL THE ROLLER BEING ELEVATED THEREFROM SO THE EXERCISING MEMBER IS STATIONARY ON THE SURFACE. ELONGATED ELASTIC STRANDS CAN HAVE THEIR ENDS ATTACHED TO THE MEMBERS. THE APPARATUS CAN BE USED AS A PULLING TENSION EXERCISES, OR AS INDIVIDUAL ROLLING SUPPORTS FOR THE HANDS, OR AS STABLE SUPPORTS FOR THE HANDS.

y 1972 E. J. MCCARTHY 3,664,667

PUSH-PULL ROLLER OR STATIONARY TYPE EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed May 18,1970 INVENTOR EDWARD J. Mc CARTHY ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl.272-433 R Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An exercising apparatusconstituting two exercising members, each including three rollers freelyrotatable and supported by two parallel side plates. The rollers arearranged with respect to the side plates so that in one orientation ofthe side plates relative to a flat surface two of the rollers may beplaced in contact with the surface with the side plates elevatedtherefrom to enable the exercising member to be rolled along thesurface. In a second orientation of the exercising member relative tothe surface the side plates may contact the surface with all the rollersbeing elevated therefrom so the exercising mem her is stationary on thesurface. Elongated elastic strands can have their ends attached to themembers. The apparatus can be used as a pulling tension exerciser, or asindividual rolling supports for the hands, or as stable supports for thehands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This inventionrelates to an exercising apparatus and more particularly to anexercising apparatus which can be utilized in a variety of ways toenable a person to exercise and develop a plurality of differentmuscles.

(2) Description of the prior art At the present time there are a greatmany types of exercising devices available to enable a person toexercise and develop different muscles. A significant drawback of manyof these devices is their lack of versatility. As an example, some ofthese devices enable a person to exercise and develop his stomachmuscles but cannot be utilized to enable a person to exercise anddevelop the muscles in his arms or to perform yoga exercises of the typewhich have recently become very popular. One such yoga exercise is wherea person places himself in an inverted position with his feet against awall. It is of course obvious that the optimum situation is achievedwhen an exercising apparatus is capable of enabling a person to do asmany different and varied exercises as he desires. In those situationswhere this not not possible the person must utilize a variety of oftenexpensive exercising devices to enable him to do the exercises hechooses.

It is thus readily apparent that if an exercising device could beprovided which will enable a person to perform a Wide variety ofdifferent exercises including some of the yoga exercises as exemplifiedby the type described above, it would find widespread use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide exercising apparatus which enables a person toperform a wide variety of different exercises.

A further object of the present invention is to provide exercisingapparatus which may be utilized for developing arm muscles as well asstomach and other muscles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide exercisingapparatus which may be utilized for developing arm muscles as well asstomach and other muscles and still enable a person to perform some yogaexercises.

' Patented May 23, 1972 Still a further object of the present inventionis to provide exercising apparatus that is capable of achieving each ofthe foregoing objects and is inexpensive to make and yet safe to use.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, the foregoing andother objects are achieved by utilizing two separate identicalexercising members. Each exercising member includes two identicaltriangularly shaped side plates (optionally the side plates may havemore than three sides each) that are held parallel and in registry witheach other. The side plates of each exercising member have three edgesand include three sets of paired pivotal connections. The three rollers,each having a separate rotational axis, are positioned so each extendsbetween a different set of paired pivotal connections with each rollerbeing freely rotatable about its rotational axis.

A first and second of the three rollers have peripheries that projectpast a common set of edges on the side plates of each exercising memberand each exercising member is free to roll along a surface (usually aflat horizontal surface such as a fioor) on these rollers when its sideplates are positioned so the first set of edges is placed adjacent andface the surface. A first of the rollers and a third of the rollers oneach exercising member are positioned so as not to project past a secondcommon set of edges of the side plates of each exercising member. Theside plates are so configured that at least three points of the saidedges of the two side plates define a plane beyond which no other pointsproject (for example the second common set of edges of the side platesmay be straight or concave) so that when the exercising members areplaced on a surface with the second set of edges of the side plates incontact therewith the members will be non-rolling, i.e., stationary instable engagement therewith. The position of the rollers of theexercising members relative to the third common set of edges of the sideplates of each member is of no consequence in the practice of thepresent invention. Additional rollers may be provided in addition to thefirst three; however the invention requires only a minimum of three inthe aforesaid relationship to the first and second sets of edges of theside plates. There also may be additional sets of side edges withoutdetracting from the utility of the device according to the presentinvention.

Each of the exercising members is also provided with an anchoring meansthat extends parallel to the rollers and is supported between the sideplates. The anchoring means is utilized to detachably secure the ends ofsprings or elastic cords to each exercising member.

When it is desired to use the exercising apparatus of the presentinvention as a pull tension device the respective ends of springs orelastic cords are attached to the anchoring means of the exercisingmembers. A person may then grip a roller of one exercising member withone hand and a roller of the other member with the other hand. He thencyclically stretches the springs or elastic cords. This develops thepersons arm and pectoral muscles and the other muscles which assist indoing the exercise.

Another use of the present invention is to place the exercising memberson a generally horizontal surface spaced apart from each other with thefirst and second rollers of each member in contact with the surface. Inthis practice of the present invention it is not necessary to utilizesprings or elastic cords and thus these elements are not connected tothe exercising members. A person while on his knees with each hand gripsthe roller of the different exercising members that is not in contactwith the surface and rolls the exercising members away from himself in apath generally in alignment with the length of his body so as to flattenhis body until his stomach touches the floor. By doing this the stomachand other 3 muscles of the user are exercised. In a similar manner thepersons toes, rather than his knees, are in contact with said surface.

Alternatively, instead of pushing the exercising members away from hisbody in a path generally in alignment with his body length the user maypush the exercising members in a direction perpendicular to the lengthof his body or at any angle relative thereto. As a result of varying themanner in which the exercising members are pushed away from the usersbody different muscles in the body may be exercised, thus showing someof the versatility of the present invention.

The exercising members may also be positioned so that they do not rollalong the generally horizontal surface but are stationary with respectthereto. This is accomplished by placing the second common set of edgesof the side plates of each exercising member in contact with thesurface. If the members are placed by side by side, desirably withrollers substantially parallel, a person may grip the most elevatedroller of each exercising member with each hand and use the memberssupports for push up exercises, hand stands or for standing inverted, onhis hands, and placing his feet against a wall for performing yogaexercises.

It is of course to be appreciated that while certain uses of theexercising members of the present invention have been disclosed, othersnaturally are possible.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part willbe pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly constitutes the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the apparatuses hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective partially broken away view of an exercisingmember of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the exercising member illustrated in FIG. 1showing the orientation of the rollers of the member relative to theedges of the side plates;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 and furthershowing the orientation of the rollers with respect to the edges of theside plates;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.2 showing the means for securing an end of a spring or elastic cord toan exercising member of the present invention and the means forpivotally supporting a roller;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two exercising members of the presentinvention with springs being connected to each member to enable a personto exercise by cyclically stretching the springs;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a second embodiment of an exercising memberaccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the inventionillustrating a way of holding the side plates of an exercising memberparallel to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to best enjoy thepresent invention, two exercising members of the type hereinafterdescribed are required and, as the members are identical to each other,a description of one exercising member is provided. In FIG. 1 anexercising member \10 of the present invention is seen to includetriangularly-shaped side plates 12 and 14 which are in registry witheach other. The side plates may be made from metal, wood or any othersuitable material. Side plates 12 and 14 are identical to each other andthe following description of side plate 12 provides an understanding ofthe arrangement of side plate 14 with like parts of each side platehaving the same alphabetical designation.

Side plate 12 includes equal length edges 12a and 12b and 120. Locatedbetween edges 12a and 12b is an apex 12d, while apices 12c and 121 arelocated between edges 12b, :12c and 120, 12a, respectively. A roller 16having a rotational axis is secured by pivotal connections 12g and 14gwhich are adjacent apices 12d and 14d, respectively, so as to be freelyrotatable about its axis. It is to be understood that while roller 16 isshown as an elongated cylindrical member, a plurality of wheelsrotatable about their axis and supported by pivotal connections 12g and14g could be used. Other similar rolling devices may also be used inplace of roller 16 and the term roller as used here is intended toinclude any such equivalents.

The manner of securing roller 16 to the respective side plates is shownin FIG. 4 with reference to side plate 14 and consists of inserting arod 18 having threaded ends through a central bore in roller 16 so thatthe roller is freely rotatable thereabout. Rod 18 projects through afirst washer 20 located on the inside of side plate 14 and fixed as bywelding to the rod 18, through an opening in side plate 14 and through asecond washer 22 which with the first washer is larger than the openingin plate 14. A nut 24 is screwed on the threaded end of the rod 18 thatis adjacent side plate 14. A similar arrangement with the threaded endof rod 18 adjacent side plate 12 prevents the rod from moving relativeto any of the side plates. The opening in side plate 14 through whichrod 18 projects may be large enough to allow the rod to be freelyrotatable therein and a hearing may be used if desired. Other means maybe utilized for attaching the rollers to the side plates in a mannerwhich allows the rollers to be freely rotatable about their centralaxes.

In a similar manner roller 26 is secured to the side plates by pivotalconnections 12h and 14h while roller 28 is secured to side plates 12 andI14 by pivotal connections 12 and 14 As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and3 all the pivotal connections for the rollers are so dispersed withrespect to the side plates 12, 14 that a portionof the periphery of eachroller 16 and 28 projects beyond edges 12a and 14a while no portion ofthe periphery of rollers 26 and 28 projects past edges 12c and 140. Theposition of rollers 16 and 26 relative to edges 12b and 14b is of noconsequence in the present invention and a portion of one, both (FIG. 6)or neither (FIG. 2) of the rollers may project beyond edges 12b and 14b.

A conventional anchoring means, constituting a trans versely elongatedsleeve, 30, is secured to side plates 12 and 14 as illustrated in (FIGS.1 and 4. The manner of supporting the sleeve 30 between the side platesmay consist of having registered holes 12k and 14k in each side plate tohold a rod 30a with the sleeve supported by this rod as seen in FIG. 4.Cotter pins30e transversely pierce at the ends of rod 30:: on theoutsides of the plates to prevent the rod from sliding through either ofthe plates. The sleeve 30 includes a plurality of transverse slots 30bwith the slots being open at their bottoms when the clamp is oriented asseen in FIG. 1. A rod 300 is slidable through the sleeve across thebottoms of the slots and projects through openings 12m and 14m in theside plates with a right angle squat handle 30d at one end of rod 300(FIG. 1) Rod 300 is of a length such that if handle 30d is adjacentplate 12 the end of the rod at plate 14 is flush with the outsidesurface of the latter plate. I

A flat strut 32 is fastened to side plates 12 and 14 as illustrated inFIG. 1 and the bottom portion of the strut is flush with edges 12c and14c. Strut 32 includes a slot to allow springs or elastic cords to beattached to sleeve 30 as will hereinafter be apparent. Alternatively,the strut may be narrow enough to allow springs or elastic cords to passbetween rollers 26 and 28 and be secured to the sleeve 30.

In a similar way strut 34 extends between plates 12 and 14 and has asurface in registry with edges 12b and 14b. Strut 34 may be of solidconstruction without an opening being necessary since access to theclamp is not needed between rollers 16 and 26. The struts assist inholding the side plates parallel to each other and rigidifying themembers.

If the side plates are made of metal the struts may also be made ofmetal and can be welded to the side plates. However, the choice ofmaterial for the struts and side plates and the technique of joining thestruts to the side plates is optional and any arrangement may be used.

An alternative method of rigidly holding the side plates parallel to oneanother is to place braces 36 (FIG. 7) between the side plates in anumber of locations. Each brace 36 has a flange 36a which is locatedadjacent the inside surface of a side plate with a portion of the bracepassing through an opening in the side plate. A second flange 36bpresses against the outside surface of the side plate with the braceattached to both side plates in this fashion. By using three braces asjust described, the parallelism of the side plates will be maintainedeven when substantial loads are imposed on the rollers.

In order to enjoy the present invention it is desirable that two of theexercising members as herein described be utilized. One such way is toattachvthe ends of. springs or elastic cords to the exercisingmembers asshown in FIG. 5. This can be done by having eyes or loops at the ends ofthe springs or elastic cords and inserting the eyes in the sleeve slotsof the exercising members while the rod 300 is withdrawn and thereafterthreading the rod through the sleeve and eyes to secure the ends of thecords to the anchoring means. A person may then grip a roller of eachexercising member and cyclically stretch the springs or elastic cords.This assists in developing a persons arm and other muscles.

Another way of utilizing the present invention is to place twoexercising members so that edges 12c and 14c of each member are incontact with a generally horizontal flat surface such as a floor. Forthis use of the exercising members no springs or elastic cords arerequired and none are connected to the anchoring means of the exercisingmembers. When the exercising members are in this orientation no rollersare in contact with the surface and a person may then grip rollers 16 ofthe exercising members with each hand and walk around in an invertedposition or use the exercising members as supports for push ups or handstands.

Additionally, in this orientation of the exercising members they may beused as supports for yoga exercises by enabling a person with each handto grip rollers 16 and place himself in an inverted position with hisfeet against the Wall. Strut 32 by being flush with edges 12c and 14cincreases the stability of each exercising member.

A further use of the present invention is to place the exercisingmembers on a floor spaced apart from one another with rollers 16 and 28of each member in contact with the floor. A person while on his knees ortoes with each hand will grip rollers 26 of the different exercisingmembers and roll the exercising members away from himself in a patheither in alignment with his body length or at an angle with respectthereto. By doing this, the stomach and other muscles of the user areexercised. It is to be noted that by varying the angle at which theexercising members are rolled away from the length of the users bodydifferent muscles are exercised showing some of the versatility of thepresent invention.

While the exercising member described herein has been shown usingtriangularly shaped side plates, it is obvious that any configuration ofside plates may be utilized as long as in one orientation of theexercising member two rollers can be rolled along a surface and in asecond orientation of the exercising member as set of registered edgesof the side plates are in stable contact with the surface with all therollers being elevated thereform, i.e. out of contact.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced members fixedly oriented with respect to eachother,

(b) means for rotatably connecting three rollers between said memberswith at least two of said rollers being parallel to each other,

(e) first, second and third rollers, said means for rotatably connectingeach of said rollers for free rotation about their respection axes, and

(d) said means for rotatably connecting said two rollers being soarranged with respect to said members that said two rollers will bepositioned to roll along a surface supporting the apparatus while saidmembers are in one orientation in a second orientation of the membersrelative to a surface supporting the apparatus, said means for rotatablyconnecting all the rollers being mounted on the member so that all therollers will be elevated out of engagement with a surface supporting theapparatus, whereby the exercising apparatus can be rolled along asurface supporting the device during an exercise program or bestationary on a surface.

2. An exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each roller ispositioned so as to be equidistant from the other rollers.

3. An exercising apparatus according to claim 1 further defined by saidmembers being parallel to one another, and means for assisting inholding said pair of members parallel to one another.

4. Exercising apparatus according to claim 1 including an anchoringmeans, said anchoring means being held by said members wherein bysecuring one end of an elastic elongated member to the anchoring meansand fixing an other end of the elastic member exercise may be performedby gripping one of said rollers and cyclically applying tension to theelastic member.

5. Exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of saidmembers includes at least two segments which arein registry with the twosegments on the other members, a first of said registered segments ofeach of said members including said rotational connection means for saidtwo parallel rollers with said two parallel rollers arranged withrespect to said first registered segments of said members to contact asurface supporting the apparatus with the first registered segmentselevated from a surface supporting the apparatus when said members arepositioned in the first orientation relative to the surface whereby inthe first orientation of said members said two parallel rollers can berolled on a surface supporting the apparatus.

6. Exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of saidmembers includes at least two segments which are in registry with thetwo segments on the other member, a second of said registered segmentsof each of said members including said rotatable connecting means forone of said two parallel rollers with said two parallel rollers and saidthird roller arranged with respect to said second registered segments ofsaid members to be clear of a surface supporting the apparatus when saidsecond registered segments contact a surface supporting the apparatuswith said members positioned in the second orientation relative to asurface supporting the apparatus, whereby in the second orientation ofsaid members said members are stationary on a surface supporting theapparatus.

7. Exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of saidmembers includes first and second segments that are in registry with thefirst and second segments of the other member, said first segments ofthe members including said rotatable connecting means for said twoparallel rollers, said two parallel rollers arranged with respect tosaid first segments to contact a surface supporting the device whilesaid first segments are clear of contact with a surface supporting thedevice when said members are positioned in the first orientationrelative to a surface supporting the device whereby in this orientationthe two parallel rollers can be rolled along a' surface supporting thedevice, said second segments of each of said members including saidrotatable connecting means for one of said two parallel roller, said oneof said two parallel rollers and said third roller being positionedrelative to said second segments to be elevated from a surfacesupporting the apparatus with said second segments in contact with asurface supporting the device when said members are in the secondorientation relative to the surface whereby the members are keptstationary on the surface in the second orientation of'the membersrelative to a surface supporting the device. 7

8 Exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said members includespaced plates each having first, second and third edges with said edgesof one plate being in registry with the corresponding edges of the otherplate, said rotatable connecting means for one of said two parallelrollers being adjacent the intersection of said first and second edgesof said plates, said rotatable connecting means for the second of vsaidtwo parallel rollers being adjacent the intersection of said second andthird edges, said rotatable connecting means for said third rollerplates are identically and triangularly shaped.

v References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,072,959 3/1937 Mulvaney etal. l2825 B 2,161,986 6/1939 Thomas l28--25 BX 2,698,454, l/1955 -Meyer16-32 RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner w. R. BROWNE, AssistantExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R. 27260, 79 R a

